Health care fight: Dems file PDR request on McKenna

State Democrats on Tuesday continued pounding Attorney General Rob McKenna for his decision to join other Republican attorneys general in fighting health care legislation President Barack Obama just signed into law.

State Party Chairman Dwight Pelz filed a public disclosure request with the A.G.’s office, asking for “all documents relating in any way to your decision” to join a lawsuit fighting the health care measure.

McKenna and other attorneys general argue that the new law is no good because it contains a requirement that people purchase health insurance, something they say over steps federal authority. They are suing.

“The public has a right to know whether McKenna generated this idea himself or whether he is acting on behalf of the National Republican Party or the Insurance Industry,” Pelz said. ‘We need to know more about his communication with the Southern Attorneys General and the Florida-based Republican law firm that have been hired to spearhead this effort.”

Pelz also wants to know how much the lawsuit will cost state taxpayers.

Also Tuesday state Sen. Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, sent McKenna a letter criticizing his move. Brown is one of several Democrats thought to be likely opponents of McKenna’s in the 2012 gubernatorial race.

“Your decision to challenge the law creates the appearance of a last-ditch obstructionist effort to represent the concerns of a political party over the interests of the people of this state,” Brown wrote.

McKenna wasn’t without his defenders.

State Sens. Janea Holmquist and Val Stevens, both Republicans, praised the attorney general.

“Attorney General McKenna is demonstrating leadership and courage in fighting this unconstitutional bill and joining in a multi-state lawsuit to challenge it in court,” Holmquist, R-Moses Lake, said in a statement. “As elected state officials, we have sworn an oath to uphold the United States and Washington state constitutions. We have an obligation to defend the rights of the citizens of our state.”